Abstract
Lactuca L. species belong to the Asteraceae family and these plants are traditionally used for therapeutic purposes around the world. The dried milky latex of L. serriola is known as “lettuce oil” and is used as a sedative in Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the sedative effects and analyze the chemical compositions of latexes obtained from some Lactuca species growing in Turkey. The sedative effects were evaluated through various behavioral tests on mice. For this purpose, latexes were obtained from L. glareosa Boiss., L. viminea (L.) J. Presl and C. P, L. mulgedioides (Vis and Panćić) Boiss. and Kotschy ex. Boiss., L. saligna L., and L. serriola L. The latex from L. saligna showed the highest sedative effects, whilst L. serriola and L. viminea latexes also displayed significant sedative effects compared to the control group at a dose of 100 mg/kg. However, the latexes from L. glareosa and L. mulqedioides did not exhibit any sedative effects on mice. Characteristic sesquiterpene lactones (lactucin, lactucopicrin, 11,13β-dihydrolactucin, and 11,13β-dihydrolactucopicrin) were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Lactucin was identified as the main component.
Highlights
Sleep is the state of rest that is necessary for all people to lead healthy lives
The sedative effects of latexes obtained from five Lactuca species grown in Turkey were investigated by various in vivo methods on mice
Lactuca species are used in folk medicine for stomach problems, pain relief, and inflammation
Summary
Sleep is the state of rest that is necessary for all people to lead healthy lives. Environmental, psychological, and physiological factors can positively or negatively affect the quality and quantity of sleep. Insomnia is considered an important health problem because of its negative effects on people’s quality of life and it often has psychiatric or medical causes [1]. Chronic sleep disorders are often defined as difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep; the quality and quantity of sleep are low. Insomnia is often seen and treated as a symptom rather than a disease. Antidepressants and sedative and hypnotic drugs are used for insomnia, especially benzodiazepines, Molecules 2020, 25, 1587; doi:10.3390/molecules25071587 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
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